Tackling the Issues

What are your main reasons for running for a county commission seat?

Nobody's really talking about freedom or liberty any more, and if they
are, they're not doing anything about it. Instead, governments keep
growing more expensive and more intrusive, without regard to whether
the programs are effective or even legitimate. Franklin County's last
budget exceeded $1 billion for the first time. Do the commissioners
talk about reducing it? No, they talk about using taxpayer money to
build a hundred-million-dollar baseball stadium. As someone who has
lived in Franklin County my whole life, I wanted to hear something
other than the normal political nonsense for a change, even if I had
to be the one to say it.

What do you see as the major issues facing the commission and how would
you address them?

The county has a bloated, billion-dollar budget; I would work to reduce
it. I would sell assets and privatize services that serve no proper
government function. The county does have legitimate functions, such
as the courts, the sheriff, and the board of elections, among others.
Running a baseball team is not among those functions. And I say that
as a life long baseball fan. Another problem we face is the shell game
being played with our tax dollars. The state shifts money to the
county, the county shifts money to the cities, the federal government
shifts money to all of them. Even the experts aren't quite sure where
it comes from or where it's going. We need to reduce the confusion so
taxpayers know how their money is being spent.

What about your background, experience or personality makes you the best
person for this office?

I think I'll be more effective than my opponents at implementing a
small government platform, because my opponents don't have a small
government philosophy. As a consultant, I've had to adapt quickly to
many different work environments, and I expect this will enable me make
a smooth transition into the office. Would my effectiveness be even
greater if I had more experience in politics? Probably, but experience
is really secondary, all things considered. I'll make sure the
commission never forgets that the money we're spending belongs to the
taxpayers, and we must make sure a program fulfills a necessary
government function before we spend that money.